Settlement of Hillcrest

Join local historian Sally Martyn, with research support from Mike Baker, for an illuminating journey through the early development of Hillcrest—Port Stanley’s elevated district rich with pioneer stories, rare architecture, resort-era charm, and hidden histories. Through maps, rare photographs, and community lore, this talk traces the transformation of Hillcrest from 1804 land grants to the elegant Hillcrest Inn and beyond.

Key Points from the Presentation

Early Land Grant (1804)

• Colonel John Bostwick received 600 acres (Concession 1 lots 1 and 2, and Concession 2 lot 1).
• Granted while serving as Sheriff of Middlesex County.

Historic Roads and Maps

• 1877 Atlas showed Prospect Street extending to the beach.
• Hill Street stretched from Colborne Street up to East Road.

Bostwick House (1827)

• Framed with square oak beams and filled with handmade strawberry bricks.
• Rare “brick nogging” construction style, with only one other example in Ontario.

The Boulevard and Cornell Street

• The Boulevard eroded over time.
• Cornell Street was constructed in 1918, named after Nathan Cornell, reeve and warden.

Bishop’s House

• After John Bostwick’s death in 1849, the house passed to Joseph Bostwick.
• Later owned by Bishop John Walsh of London.

McQueen House

• Early adobe house, rare for Ontario.
• Later purchased by the Williamson family and covered in wood siding.

Cholera Hospital (1833–34)

• Built by Middlesex County during the cholera epidemic.
• Many victims buried on the hill; remains discovered in 1930.

Heights Auction (1875)

• Thirty cottages and lots were sold on the Heights.
• Streets included Observatory, Alma, Florence, and Zephyr.

Liberty Hill Club (1896)

• Built by J.A. Robinson alongside the White House and rental cottages.
• Included tennis courts, dining rooms, and beach access.

Meteorological Tower (around 1900)

• Installed to track wind and weather patterns.
• Records maintained by Manuel Payne.

Aqueduct and Mill

• Aqueduct ran between the White House and Liberty Hill Club.
• Supplied water to Bostwick Mill on Kettle Creek.

Hillcrest Inn Expansion (1931)

• Carrie Rainier and Stan Ship expanded the Inn into a 35-room hotel.
• Included dining areas and hosted notable guests.

Fire and Decline (1964)

• The Inn was sold in 1950.
• Destroyed by fire on December 9, 1964.

Viewpoints and Beach History

• Photos showed early roads, orchards, and federal groins improving Orchard Beach.